Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

2G3
1785. March 4. Tlie scrutiny for AVestminster put an end to
Parliament, (sic) and the Hi>rh liayliti" lias made his return as
below:—Admiral Hood 6,588, Mr. Fox 0,1 20, Sir Cecil Wray 5,895.
Great illuminations and rejoicinfrs. Hood majority of Fox, 462 ;
Fox majority of Wrey, 231 ;
polled upon the whole, 18,609.
1785. April. Motion made in the House of Commons for a tax
on attornies, also on hawkers and pedlei's ; likewise on frloves and
mittons.
1785. April 20. William Gibson, esq., town-clerk of Xewca.stle,
died, and Nathaniel Clayton, esq., succeeded him in that office.'^
1785. April. Lady Percy delivered of twins: crreat rejoiceing.
1785. May."5. Died at Bordeaux, in France, Mr. David Cunningham,
merchant in Alnwick.^
1785. May 15. Mr. John Atkinson fixed as curate of Longhoughton,
under the Kev. Mr. Stockdale, at 30/. per annum.
1785. May 20. Airhdeacon's court.
1785. May. Married. Mr. John Dodds, attorney at law, and Miss
James, daughter of Mr. William James, attorney, at Morpeth.
1785. June 1. A meeting of the Sons of the Clergy.
1785. June 9. Mr. Thomas Davidson, attorney at law, and Miss
Allen married.^
1785. June 9. Died, Gabriel Selby. esq., of Pawston, one of His
Majestie's justices of the peace."
tion is delicate, I am firmly of opinion that by the care which he will always
take of it, he will in all probability see a good old age. He has been married
seven vears to a very sensible economical woman ; he has no children.
He wishes to raise on his chance of inheriting this estate the sum of £4,000.'
From the original letter in the possession of Dr. C. C. Burman.
Mr. George Selby, the brother of the testator, subsequently had two sons,
viz.. Prideaux Selby, the distinguished ornithologist, and Captain George
Selby, R.X.
Mr. George Selby of Foxton, mentioned in Stockdale's letter, was born on
the 13 July, 1746, being the eldest son of George Selby of Alnwick, attorney,
by his wife Mary, sister of John Selby of Beal, named in the text. His
marriage with Helen Xott has been already mentioned (p. 234, "Upra) ; he died
10 June, 1S15, s.p. His younger brother was Henry CoUingwood Selby of
Swanstield, frequently named in these pages.
'
This date is incorrect, for the Xeircuslle Cournnt of Saturday, 2nd Julj',
1785, reports tiiat Mr. Nathaniel Clayton had been elected to be town clerk on
the previous Tuesday, in the room of Mr. William Gibson, rciijiinl, and the
next issue of the same newspaper, oh Julj' 9, announced the death on Tuesday
{5th July) of Mr. William (iibson, ' late town clerk of this Corporation.'
^ Cj. Xtirca.-